Get to Know The Horizontal Pressure Leaf Filter
Pressure Leaf Filter is used to refine liquid streams. A pressure leaf filter can be of two types. One is Vertical Pressure Leaf Filter and the other is Horizontal Pressure Leaf Filter. The tank and the leaves of a vertical pressure leaf filter are mounted vertically. But in the case of horizontal pressure leaf filter the tank is horizontal. This filter is best suitable for the food industries like
- Edible Oil Industry
- Beverage Industry
Apart from food industries it is also used in
- Chemical Industry
- Petrochemical Industry
- Pharmaceutical Industry
- Copper Refineries etc.
When a vertical pressure leaf filter is perfect for processing fine chemicals, horizontal pressure leaf filter is used in heavier processing industries.
Like a vertical pressure leaf filter, a horizontal pressure leaf filter also has two parts.
- The Leaves &
- The Vessel
The Leaves: The leaves in a horizontal pressure leaf filter is placed vertically. The leaves are made with 5 plies of SS wire mesh. Mesh size can be from 25 microns up to 150 microns. It depends on the processing equipment. Two outer wire mesh is mainly responsible for filtering. The inner meshes are only used for support. These 5 plies of meshes are held together by a tubular frame. Then the meshes are riveted using the machine to make them leak-proof. If any leaf is damaged, it needs to be removed immediately.
The Vessel: The horizontal cylindrical vessel of a horizontal pressure leaf filter marks the difference between a VPLF(Vertical Pressure leaf filter) and an HPLF( Horizontal pressure leaf filter). All the mechanism of filtering liquids takes place inside the vessel. This vessel consists of several parts. They are 1. Belt 2. Motor support 3. Motor 4. Upper shaft seal 5. Spacer Ring 6. Filtering leaves 7. Bracket 8. Vessel 9. Shaft 10. Rake 11. Lower shaft seal and 12. Slurry discharge velvet.
How it works
When contaminated liquid is supplied into the vessel of a horizontal pressure leaf filter, filter aids start to form a layer on the both side of the leaves. It creates a precoating layer on the leaves which ultimately result in creating pressure inside the vessel. This pressure prevents the impurities and cleaned liquid pass through the leaves. The trapped materials thicken and start to form a cake. When the liquid flow is stopped due to the obstacle of the cake, the cake is discharged. The process of discharging can be done either manually or by attaching vibrator with the leaves.
However, precoating is used only when it is necessary. Contaminants themselves form a layer on the leaves. The leaves then are only used as a base. Gradually this layer becomes coarse. So, to continue the filtering process pressure supply becomes necessary. Eventually, it becomes impossible to continue the process no matter how much pressure is supplied. Filter surface is cleaned then and cake is discharged.
Advantages
1. Mechanically using a Horizontal pressure leaf filter is easy.
2. Can be used for getting both filtered liquids and cake.
3. Cakes can be collected in two forms. Dry and wet.
4. It can be operated without any human intervention.
5. It saves both labor and time.
A horizontal pressure leaf is one of the most popular filters in the food industries. It is highly used for its 2-3 times higher flirtation rate than other filters.